Une page de la vie au NIST

Juste pour le fun, un message recu au NIST aujourd'hui... C'est dangereux les grands espaces publics, heureusement qu'il y a des barrieres pour proteger les passants de la faune sauvage du NIST!

On Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at around 10:30am, a guest researcher was 
bitten by a raccoon near a storm drain on a sidewalk.  At 
approximately 1:30pm that day, a raccoon and two of its babies were 
captured in the same vicinity by the NIST and Gaithersburg City Animal 
Control Staff.

The guest worker was treated at the NIST Health Unit and is recovering from 
the bite.  The raccoon was tested for rabies and the state lab has 
confirmed that it was not infected.

The NIST Safety, Health and Environment Division and the Office of Animal 
Control remind employees to avoid contact with any wild or unknown domestic 
animals, especially those that exhibit unusual behavior (lethargy, 
confusion, aggression), are protecting their young, or are out during 
unusual hours (i.e. normally nocturnal animals out in the daylight 
hours).  

In addition, please do not provide food to the wildlife, as the food is 
often inedible to animals and can have unforeseen consequences for the 
wildlife on the grounds.

If you come into direct contact with a raccoon or other wildlife on campus, 
please call the NIST Health Unit.